THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER STEWARDSHIP
The importance of ensuring ABP Bandon remains a good steward of the critical resource that is water at both a site level and catchment level is something that must be integrated into the site’s internal system at every level. We are proud to announce that we are the first European company to achieve the Alliance for Water Stewardship Platinum Level Certification (AWS) standard.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE AWS STANDARD
The objective of the AWS Standard is to drive water stewardship, which is defined as: ‘the use of water that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that involves site-and catchment-based actions’. Good water stewards understand their own water use, catchment context and shared concerns in terms of water governance; water balance; water quality; Important Water-Related Areas (IWRAs); Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and then engage in meaningful individual and collective actions that benefit people, the economy and nature.
UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN WATER USEAGE
Through integrating the methodology behind the main outcomes of the standard, AWS provides a framework for companies like ABP to understand their own water use and impacts, and to also work collaboratively with other groups in striving to achieve larger sustainable water management goals, at both a site and catchment level.
An example of the sites current engagement in catchment-related actions is the trial which it is carrying out on a farmer’s land. This consists of a farmyard run-off treatment trial which is being carried out in conjunction with University College Cork. This trial aims to provide a sustainable, cost-effective form of treatment for potential nutrients in farmyard run-off.
Click here to download the AWS Commitment Document
To find out more about The AWS International Water Stewardship Standard click on the icon below
